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HAND BOOK 



-AIRMOUNT PARK 



Cf/ 



PHILADELPHIA 



By DAVID SCATTERGOOD 



COPYRIGHTED, 1891 



'^^^%^r^^" 



PUBLISHKD BY ' ^ * 

DAVID SCATTERGOOD, 

N. K. Cor. Sixth and Chestnut Sts., 

Philadelphia 




HEiDyUARTERS OF THE PARK GUARD. 



HAND-BOOK OF FAIRMOUNT PARK. 



Fairmount Park is the largest public Park in the 
world: it embraces within its domains 2,750 
acres, with natural scenery unsurpassed. Among 
the most prominent Parks of the world may be 
mentioned the Bois de Boulogne, Paris, 2,158 
acres ; the Prater, Vienna, 2,500 acres ; Windsor 
Great Park, Loudon, 1,800 acres ; Richmond 
Hill, London, 2,468 acres ; Phoenix Park, Dub- 
liu, 1,752 acres; Hampton Court, near London, 
1,872 acres ; Petit Park, Versailles, 1,280 acres. 
These are the only Parks out of many hundred 
whose extent exceed 1,000 acres. 
The Park at Philadelphia takes its name from grand old Fair- 
Mount, where was the first basin of the city's water supply, so 
beautifully situated that William Penn early had his eyes upon it 




FAIRMOUNT PARK. 5 

as a place of country residence. Its elevation is one hundred and 
ten feet above the river level. Fairmount has long lived in the 
memory of Philadelphians as a pleasant place and a resort for 
strangers who were bent upon sight-seeing. Here the water was 
pumped up to the basin by water wheels driven by the river itself; 
the first wheel started in 1822. The hill is divided into four reser- 
voirs, and they hold 26,996,636 gallons ; they for a long time were 
the City's only supply. The architectural features have been greatly 
improved since first laid out by the engineer, Frederick Graf; whose 
marble bust within a Gothic canopy adorns the grounds. 




STEAMBOAT LANDING, FAIKMOUNT. 

The Park in its present dimensions was a work of time, and of 
much labor and thought upon the part of the public-spirited citi- 
zens of Philadelphia. Its formation was opposed at every step, 
being fraught with objections 9s to its great cost, the engineering 
difiiculties to overcome, its deeply wooded vales, its hilly and rocky 
surface, the existence of many fine estates and mansions of old 
families that were owners of the magnificent grounds, all of which 
were sought to be converted into the p-ospective finest Park in the 
world- 



m^ 




i 




FAIRMOUNT PARK. 7 

The first property that passed into the possession of the City 
towards forming the Park was a tract known as "Lemon Hill," 
embracing about forty-five acres. This, during the Revolution 
from 1770 to 1779, was the property of Robert Morris, the great 
financier and millionaire merchant of Philadelphia. Here in the 
beautiful gronnds Washington, Franklin, and members of the 
Continental Congress and other worthies of those days spent many 




BOAT CLVB HOUSE. 



happy hours. Financial ruin at last overtook the genial and 
princely owner, he who had saved his country through the Revo- 
lution as much as did its illustrious warriors, was forced by heart- 
less creditors to walk down these palatial grounds and accept a 
debtor's cell in the city prison, in obedience to an absurd and bar- 
barous law, as a writer has said, "which, because a man could not 
pay what he owed, locked him up lest he might earn the means to 
discharge his debt." 

One of the principal approaches to the Park is the Green street 
entrance, which is at the foot of the Fairmount basin. Here a 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 



4 'i i-r 




\:K'f^ ^^'ii3. 




STATUE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, GREEN ST. ENTRANCE. 

wide and beautifully curved roadway introduces the stranger into 
the fairy realms of the Park. Upon his left is the Schujlkill, and 
the dam and steamboat landing, and upon the right the Reading 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 9 

Railroad, that crosses the ravines and the river, with fine archi- 
tectural features, as is the character of all the bridges of the dif- 
ferent railroads that have their construction in the Park. 




LIONESS CARRYING A WILD BOAR TO ITS YOUNG. 

The first work of art that confronts the visitor is the heroic 
bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln, erected by the Lincoln Monu- 
ment Association in 1871. This statue, the most noted of the 
hundred in the Park, cost 1136,000, was modeled by Randolph 
Rogers in Rome, and was cast at the celebrated founderies in Mu- 
nich, Bavaria. It represents the President in a sitting posture, in 
his right hand a pen, and in his left a scroll of the Emancipation 
Proclamation ; the position is easy and natural, and sitting it is 9 
feet 6 inches high, and if represented standing, would be about 11 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 11 

feet in height. The base of the structure is of hewn granite, is 
oblong in form, at the ground 15 by 17 feet. Upon the ornamental 
panels are carved inscriptions, taken from noted sentences of this 
illustrious man. Turning to the right you see a statue of the 
"Lioness carrying to its young a wild boar," one of the many and 
costly groups erected by the Park Art Association throughout the 
grounds. This Association has spent thousands of dollars in works 
of art for the adornment of the Park, its work is met at almost 
every suitable place, and is being continually added to. 




GRANT S CABIN. 



A continued drive or stroll soon brings you to the old mansion 
on the summit of Lemon Hill. This property, in 1800, after the 
financial ruin of Robert Morris, passed into the possession of 
Henry Pratt, one of Philadelphia's merchants, and in his hands 
resumed its former elegance and luxury, and the grounds became 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. IS 

known as "Pratt's Garden," and was thrown open to the use of 
the citizens. The property finally came into the possession of the 
City through the exertions of Thomas P. Cope, in 1844. The for- 
tunes of this once magnificent mansion have fallen like those of 
its once noted owner. It is now a restaurant, where the simpler 
forms of refreshments may be procured. The bronze group of 
"The Wrestlers," mounted on a pedestal of granite, is at the foot 
of Lemon Hill, near the Brown street entrance. 

Fairmount Park is divided by the Park Commissioners into four 
divisions, "Old Park," "East Park," "West Park," and "Wissa- 
hickon Park." These are touched by nearly all the city railways. 

The "Old Park" comprises all south of Girard avenue, and is 
the easiest of access to the people of the southern part of the city. 
Within this division are the old Fairmount Water Works and 
Lemon Hill, with its lofty observatory, w^here an elevator will give 
visitors a fine view over the City and Park ; springs of sweet water 
are abundant, and a strong mineral spring is near Lemon Hill. 
Near the observatory is located the music pavillion, w^here through- 
out the summer, on certain afternoons, concerts are given by choice 
brass bands. On Sundays the music is of selections of a popular 
or classic sacred character. The expense of this music is borne by 
a season subscription of wealthy citizens. This is a favorite pic- 
nic ground, as it has swings and flying horses, goat teams, etc, for 
the children. From the mansion, paths lead through shady groves 
and secluded by-ways and terraced gardens. On the river road, 
reached from here, is the group of boat-club cottages of beautiful 
design and well-kept grounds. Near is the sand-stone group of 
"Tarn o' Shanter," by Thom, a Scotch sculptor, under a rustic 
canopy placed here by the Park Art Association. There are four 
figures in this group. There sits Tam with his mug of ale, — 

"And at his elbow, Souter Johnny, 
His ancient, trusty, drouthy crony ; 
The Souter told his queerist stories, 
The landlord's laugh was ready chorus ; 
The storm without might roar and rustle — 
Tam did not mind the storm a whistle." 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 



Here the boat-houses of the "Schuylkill Navy" are quite prom- 
ineut. These are models of architectural beauty, constructed of 
different kinds of stoue, and covered with creeping vines. They 
were constructed under a license from the Park Commissioners. 
The large club boats and the delicate shells make an interesting 
sight on the river. The Navy has frequently rowing regattas, both 
wath the home clubs and with visiting clubs from distant cities. 
These boat races are quite a feature of the Park. 

Upon the higher ground 
from the river are several lit- 
tle summer houses and fine 
roads, where carriages and 
bic3'cles mingle in profusion. 
In this part of the Park is 
" Grant's Cabin," used in the 
war as his headquarters at 
City Point, Va., brought from 




STATUE OF MORTON MC .MICHAEL. 



there soon after the war and erected here. Also is here a tasteful lit- 
tle structure, that was a porter's lodge to a mansion that formerly 
stood on this spot, but has been changed by outward ornamenta- 




OBSERVATOKY AND MERRY-GU-l>uL . 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 17 

tion, and is now the headquarters of the East Park Guard. Near 
is the statue of Morton McMichael, once Mayor of Philadelphia, 
and one of the Park Commissioners. Formerly the roads in the 
Park near here crossed the Reading Railroad at grade, but now all 
steam roads either go above or below the Park roads. Near this 
crossing stands a large statue of Baron Von Humboldt, presented 
to Philadelphia by her German citizens. 

The Girard avenue and Connecting Railroad bridges here cross 
the Schuylkill in converging lines, but at different planes, and so 
avoid interference. The Girard avenue bridge is the widest in the 
world. It is i,ooo feet long and loo wide, and 52 feet above the 
water, supported upon five arches. The roadway is of granite, 
67 feet wide, with sidewalks 16 }4 feet wide, and are paved with 
slate. The balustrade is ornamented with bronze panels, repre- 
senting birds and foliage. Near. the eastern entrance to Girard 
avenue bridge, where the earthworks were thrown up during the 
excitement in the City preceding the battle of Gettysburg, is an 
equestrian statue of Joan of Arc, erected by the Park Art Commis- 
sioners. We are now entering' w^hat is known as the 

"EAST PARK." 

The East Park embraces all on the east side of the river from 
Girard avenue to Wissahickon creek, and is about 5 miles long. 
On this section, Nature seems to have lavished some of her choicest 
treasures. East Park is a succession of hills and ravines, from the 
avenue to the Wissahickon, wnth huge rocks towering high above 
the river. The section abounds in grand old trees and handsome 
shrubbery, interspersed with fine sweeps of roadways and grassy 
plots. Every turn in the many paths reveals a succession of lovely 
views and fresh charms of Nature. Within its boundaries are 
several mansions of colonial days. 

Here is the country seat " Mt. Pleasant," popularly called the 
Dairy, once owned and inhabited by Benedict Arnold, the traitor. 
The stately mansion on this estate was built by John MacPherson, 
who was its owner from 1761 to 1779. ^tie mansion passed from 
MacPherson to Benedict Arnold, and by him to trustees, as a mar- 
riage settlement to his bride, Miss Shippen, a celebrated belle of 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 19 

the Quaker Cit}', he reserving to himself a life estate. His defec- 
tion to the patriot cause took place in 1780, and was followed by 
the forfeiture of his life interest. The mansion then became the 
residence of Baron Steuben, and it is to his services the colonies 
were indebted for the discipline of the American army. Here are 
flying horses, swings and other appliances for the amusement of 




ORMISTON. 



the children, and as the other name " Dairy " implies, an abundant 
supply of good milk and cream from the Alderney cows owned on 
the estate is always to be had. This refreshment makes the Dairy 
a popular place for pic-nics in the immediate vicinity. A view of 
the Schuylkill river from the heights here is very beautiful. This 
property was bought by the Park Commissioners in 1868. 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 



21 



Close by is "Rockland," another estate with a mansion dating 
back to 1810. Here is a deep dark ravine, always cool and inviting 
on the hottest days in summer. Just north is the mansion and 
estate of " Ormiston," formerly the property of Edward Shippen 
Burd. The name is derived from an estate in Scotland. In close 
proximity to Ormiston is the East Park Reservoir, one of the basins 




AVOODFORD. 

for supplying the City with water. This is the largest one that has 
been built. It is located on a piece of land 106 acres in extent, 
and has a water surface of 90 acres, and holds 750,000,000 gallons 
of water. 

Beyond this is " Randolph " and " Edgely " where there is a fine 
spring. This estate was the original Laurel Hill, but a place farther 
up the river known as the " Laurels" when it became a cemetery 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 23 

had its name changed to " Laurel Hill," which forced the original 
Laurel Hill to take another name. Over 130 springs are located 
within the Park limits. Along the river- road in this neighborhood 
is promotory point and "the tunnel." This tunnel is 140 feet long^ 
41 feet wide, and 23 feet high, and is throughout solid natural 
rock, without any lining whatever. A little beyond it is a large 
flowing spring by the roadside. 

North of this is Strawberry Hill and Mansion where concerts are 
given in summer, and is perhaps the choice place of the East Park 
next to Lemon Hill. Near here is the grand fountain erected hj 
the Park Art Association. Strawberry Mansion can be reached, 
from the river-road, notwithstanding its deep and rocky face, for 
opposite the steamboat-landing has been constructed a foot-path,, 
with an arched portal, winding stone steps, and a rustic balustrade, 
making a hidden ascent, in a measure, to the heights on which the 
mansion is situated, and a picturesque feature of the river-drive. 
These grounds are a favorite resort for pic-nics, and the mansion is 
used as a restaurant, of a size so large that in all weathers an en- 
joyable time may be had here. There is abundant accommodation 
for horses and carriages. Not far from Strawberry Mansion is 
Woodford, now occupied as a retreat and police station of the Park 
Guards. Near Woodford is the Parade Ground, where boys can 
play ball to their hearts' desire. This mansion was erected in 1742 
(so an iron casting in the chimney informs us) by William Cole- 
man, a friend of Franklin. Back of this ground is Robinson's 
Woods ; many large parties visit this section of Bast Park in 
wagons, taking with them their own benches, tables, and other 
articles for their own comfort. The whole of the Park is plenti- 
fully supplied with small buildings to be used as "shelters." The 
different views of the Schuylkill river that can be had from the 
elevated grounds of Strawberry Mansion are extremely beautiful. 
The "Fountain of Orestes and Pylades," a bronze group, is placed 
near the Columbia avenue entrance. 

All of the mansions and the grounds in the Park are continually 
at the disposal of pic-nic parties, and hardly a day passes but that 
they are occupied. The Park authorities provide a cordon of 



FAIRMOUNT I'AKK. 










*r* 




GRAND FOUNTAIN NEAR DAIPHIN ST. ENTRANCE. 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 27" 

guardsmen, who warn away intruders from the entrance and min- 
ister to the wants of the pleasure party. The efforts of the Com- 
missioners in this respect are indicative of the light in which they 
regard the relation of the people to the Park. They have thought- 
fully sought to furnish to the masses of the people every facility 
of access to their property, and have only imposed such restraints 
to their erjoyment of it as were necessary to prevent unwarranted 
license. Its broad expanses of green are the undisturbed play- 
grounds of the children, and no forbidding signs warn them from 
intruding on the grass. Croquet parties make the lawns of the old 
estate, where erst courtly ladies promenaded, ring again with their 
mirth and hilarity. The very mansions themselves, are, for an 
afternoon at least, the country residences of the people, and their 
spacious apartments and wide halls and cool verandas are thronged 
with private parties, who find much pleasure in entertaining and 
being entertained. Among the purposes of the Commissioners, 
that to preserve and restore the mansions on these grounds is most 
commendable. All that helps to realize to us the days and actors 
of the Revolution is of much importance to our future. The narrow 
glass windows of these mansions are more precious to patriotic eyes^ 
than the broad plates of our era ; the small rooms, with their low 
ceilings, and their open fire-places, contending with wintry draughts, 
are more grateful to patriotic hearts than any lofty chambers of our 
present residences — for their occupants were the foremost men of 
our race, and their work was for all time. 

North of Strawberry Mansion the Park is greatly narrowed by 
Laurel Hill Cemetery. We are now forced to pursue our way by 
the river-road until we arrive at the Falls bridge, where we can 
cross over to the western bank of the river and stroll through the 
section known as "West Park." This river drive, however, on the 
east bank is very picturesque and brings us into the " Wissahickon 
Park," but before w^e introduce the reader into this fairy region of 
wood and stream, we will retrace our steps to the main entrance. 

THK "we:st park" 

is over the Girard avenue bridge. This section is the largest one 
of the Park, and the first attraction that presents itself is the great 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 



29 



Zoological Garden, the largest and most complete in America, and 
with but one superior in the world, that of Regent's Park, London. 
This garden occupies a tract formerly the country seat of John 
Penn, a grandson of William Penn, the founder, and known as 




" SOLITUDE," IN THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN. 

"Solitude." The house built by John Penn still stands in the 
grounds ; it was erected in 1785. John Penn, though Proprietary 
Governor, and half-owner of the Province of Pennsylvania, loved 
solitude better than power or men, and selected this spot, then a 
dense woods, as a site to build his house, which, when finished, he 
named "Solitude," by which it has ever since been known. In 




30 



GROUNDS IN THE ZOOLOGICAL GARD2N. 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 




THE DYING LIONESS. 



1851 Granville John Penn, great-grandson of the founder, and last 
private owner of "Solitude," came on a visit from England to 
Philadelphia. The City authorities paid him considerable atten- 
tion, and in return Mr. Penn gave them a collation at " Solitude." 
It was his desire that the City should become owner of the house 
and grounds, and that they should always be called "Solitude," 
in remombrance of his family. In 1852, a sale of the property was 
made to the City of Philadelphia, and the last of the original Penn 



32 FAIRMOUNT PARK. 

deeds surrendered ; and in June, 1873, it passed by lease into the 
hands of Ihe Zoological Society of Philadelphia. 

The tract contains 33 acres, and is part of Fairmount Park, the 
Commissioners of which leased it by a perpetual lease to the Zoo- 
logical Society, who have established the most successful collection 
of animals existing in America. 

No expense has been spared in procuring animals or fitting up 
the Garden in a manner best adapted to their maintenance and ex- 
hibition. The society has agents in every part of the world con- 
stantly on the alert for rare and interesting specimens of natural 
history. 

At the main entrance of the Zoological Garden is a beautiful 
bronze group known as "The Dying Lioness," contributed by the 
Park Art Association, and is regarded as the finest of its contribu- 
tions. It is the work of a Munich artist, and is considered by good 
judges as by far the best piece of open air statuary which the Park 
contains. 

Opposite the garden is the Ivaudsdowne entrance to the West 
Park, on the old estate known as Egglesfield. From Girard avenue 
near the Landsdowne entrance is seen the " Letitia House, " the 
original residence of "William Penn that formerly stood in Letitia 
court, named from his daughter Letitia, a sm^U street running 
south from Market street below Second street. It was taken down 
in 1889 and erected here as originally built. Watson in his Annals, 
says it was the first cellar dug in Philadelphia. 

Near here is the Sweet Briar Mansion, with its children's play 
ground, fiying horses and swings, another one of these old colonial 
homes that are still preserved within the precincts of the Park, and 
all are fraught with associations that make them precious souvenirs 
of by-gone days. Carriages entering the West Park, over the 
Girard avenue bridge pass beneath the " connecting railroad," and 
enter upon the Landsdowne drive. 

This brings us on the old Centennial grounds, and the most 
prominent and important object now is Memorial Hall, erected as 
amemorial of the great Centennial Exposition of 1876. Memorial 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 33 

Hall is the greatest attraction of the West Park. In it is the Penn- 
sylvania Art Museum and many objects of interest. The cosmo- 
ramic views of Pompei are here to be seen, purchased in Europe 
by John Welsh, and presented to the Commission. The Memorial 
Hall is of beautiful and imposing architecture, having a square 
dome, which is in harmony with the square front, and serves to 




'• I.ETITIA HOVSK 



lENCE OF ^VILLIAM PENN. 



light the objects of art within the building in a perfect manner. 
The cost of this beautiful structure was |;i, 500,000. Standing alone, 
as it does, on the lyandsdowne plateau, few persons realize its size 
or the spaciousness of its well proportioned galleries. The building 
measures 365 feet by 210 feet. The oflBcial measurements of the 
architect give a wall space, available for the exhibitions of pictures, 
of 71,992 feet 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 35 

At the main entrance of Memorial Hall are two colossal bronze 
statues of winged horses attended by " Calliope " and " Euterpe," 
the muses of epic and lyric poetry, originally designed for the 
Vienna Opera House. They were bought in Vienna, in the Cen- 
tennial year, by a citizen of Philadelphia, and presented to the 
Park, Immediately in front of these is a beautiful small fountain 
erected as a memorial to John Welsh, a philanthropic and patriotic 
citizen, and the leading mind in the Centennial Exhibition. 

The present occupant of Memorial Hall is the corporation styled 
" The Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art." Its 
history, briefly, is as follows : For some years the Commissioners 
of Fairmount Park and other citizens of Philadelphia had been 
desirous of bringing about the establishment, within the Park, of 
a Museum of Art, Science and Industry — a collection similar to 
that of the South Kensington Museum, of London. The approach 
of the Centennial celebration rendered it possible to do this. The 
City Councils appropriated |5oo,ooo and the Legislature of the 
■State 11,000,000, for the erection of a permanent Centennial build- 
ing in Fairmount Park, which shall remain perpetually as the 
property of the people of the Commonwealth for their improve- 
ment and enjo3'ment." In accordance with this design, a com- 
mittee of citizens was formed July, 1875, in advance of the opening 
of the Exhibition. 

During the Centennial it was given over to the exhibition of 
works of art of all kinds, furnished by exhibitors. The objects 
obtained by purchase and gift at the Centennial w^ere re-arranged 
here and opened to the public May, 1877. Encouraged by their 
success in starting the Museum, the trustees the next year opened 
an Industrial Art School in the central part of the city. That 
there was great need for a school just of this kind, was apparent at 
once from the number and character of the persons who applied 
for admission. 

Meanwhile the Museum, though making no purchases, con- 
tinued to grow slowly. Mr. Joseph E. Temple, a merchant of 
Philadelphia, made a gift to the institution of 150,000. His first 
purpose was to direct that all the income of this sum should be de- 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 




^t 



"IBS 



ii. 




STATUE OF WITHERSPOON. 



voted to the purchase of objects for the beautifying of Memorial 
Hall. But when the needs of the school were presented to him, 
he set aside two-fifths of the income of his gift for the creation of 
the "Temple" scholarships in the school. 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 





STATUE OF GEN L MEADE. 



The second, and quite the most important acquisition to the 
Museum was Mrs. Bloomfield-Moore'sgift of the Blocmfield-Moore 
collection. This most attractive and valuable collection of art 
objects was made by Mrs. Moore herself. Her judgment in art 
and the opportunities by her visits and residence abroad, enabUng 
her to obtain some of the choicest treasures from the Old World 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 




IL PENSEROSO, IN HORTICLLTURAL HALL. 



collections, she has endowed the Museum with the most important 
collection of its kind in the country. Mrs. Moore is still con- 
stantly making additions to this already princely gift. 

Out of the Temple trust the Museum has purchased many arti- 
cles of beauty and interest abroad. Other bequests of wealthy 
persons have added to the resources of the Museum. 

Near the Memorial Hall is the beautiful statue of Witherspoon. 
It was erected by the Presbyterian churches of Philadelphia ; the 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 41 

women furnishing the marble pedestal for the statue ; and north of 
the Hall is the equestrian statue in bronze of General Meade, 
mounted on a pedestal of Pennsylvania granite, erected by the 
Park Art Association. 

The next principal object of interest in this vicinity is Horticul- 
tural Hall, one of the original Centennial buildings. This can be 
reached by passing over the ravine on the Landsdowne bridge. It 
occupies a bluff that overlooks the Schuylkill, loo feet below, to 
the eastward. This great conservatory is 380 x 193 feet and 55 feet 
high, the largest building for this purpose in this country. The 
decorations of the interior are in keeping with the external design. 
Outside promenades — four in number, each 100 feet long — lead 
along the roofs of the forcing houses. Restaurants, reception- 
rooms and offices occupy the two ends of the building. The cost 
of the building was 1252,000. 

Within the hall, standing among the palms, is the statue of II 
Penserosa, erected by the Park Art Association. I^ily ponds are 
near, and on the west end is a large valley cultivated with flowers 
of all kinds. 

At the north end of Horticultural Hall is a beautiful marble 
monument, erected by the Hebrew Societies to "Religious Liberty," 
embracing a finely-chiseled group. Near the southwest corner is a 
fine marble statue of the German poet Goethe, and opposite, in the 
northeast corner, is a statue of Schiller, erected by a German 
society of Philadelphia. On Belmont avenue, south of Horticul- 
tural Hall, is a marble statue of Columbus, erected by the Italian 
citizens. 

On a line with this flowery vale, at the foot of George's Hill, 
is the Catholic Total Abstinence Union fountain, erected during 
the Centennial year. The prominent figure is "Moses Striking the 
Rock ; " the surrounding figures, all of prominent persons of Irish 
birth, represent Father Matthew, the Irish apostle of temperance ; 
Charles Carroll, one of the signers of the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence ; John Carroll, a member of the Continental Congress of 
1776, and Commodore Barney, the first Commodore in the Colonial 
Navy. 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 



4a 




STATUE OF COLUMBUS. 



A beautiful entrance to the Park is at the intersection of Elm 
and Belmont avenues, where there is a restaurant, and where car- 
riages are run at short intervals to Belmont ; and here can also be 



44 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 




PARK ENTRANCE, COR. BELMONT AND ELM AVES. 

hired carriages by parties for a drive of any extent through the 
Park. 

A mile to the northward of this fountain is "George's Hill," an 
elevated point, 210 feet above high tide. This tract, containing 83 
acres, was presented to the City by Jesse and his sister Rebecca 
George, subject to annuities for life. In an address, accompanying 
the donation, Mr. George stated that the property had been the 
home of his ancestors for many generations. They gave it to the 
City for Park purposes, but desiring that the name George's Hill 
be retained. A few weeks after the celebration, which attended 
the opening of the drive to the newly-acquired property, Rebecca 
George quietly passed away, and soon thereafter Jesse followed 
her. George's Hill is a grand objective point of pleasure parties. 
Few carriages make the tour of the Park without taking George's 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 



45- 




ENGLISH CENTENNIAL BUILDING. 



Hill in their way — stopping for a few moments to rest their horses 
and let the visitors feast their eyes on the view which lies before 
them. An oval concourse, 200 feet in diameter, crowns its summit. 
Adjoining is the Belmont Reservoir, which has a capacity of 35,- 
800,000 gallons. On the hill is a bronze statue of ''Night," erected 
by the Art Association. The English building and the Ohio build- 
ing are both still standing near this drive, mementoes of the Cen- 
tennial. 

The next prominent object of interest, in this part of the West 
Park, is ** Belmont," formerly called Judge Peter's Mansion. The 
date of the erection of this building is fixed by a monogram, T. W. 
P. 1745, cut on a slab set in the wall. . Judge Peters, on this estate, 
in the days of the Revolution, and some years subsequently, enter- 
tained more notable personages than has seldom fallen to the lot 
of any other host. Among his frequent guests were Franklin; 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 47 

Rittenhouse, the astrouomer ; Bartram, the naturalist ; Wharton, 
and distinguished men of science from Europe. Lafayette, while 
in Philadelphia, on his return to this country in 1824, was con- 
stantly with the Judge and spent much of his time here. The 
Baron Steuben was on relations of much intimacy with the host. 
Here, also, Talleyrand and Louis Phillippe were received ; Robert 
Morris, the Count de Survillers; John Penn, the Governor; John 
Adams, and the author of the Declaration, Thomas Jefferson, were 
his neighbors. Washington's memory is the most sacred legacy of 
these grounds. The biographer of Judge Peters (Samuel Breck) 
writes : "Whenever a morning of leisure permitted that great man 
to drive to Belmont, it W' as his constant habit to do so. In its beau- 
tiful gardens, beneath the shadows of the lofty hemlocks, he would 
sequester himself from the world, the cares and torments of busi- 
ness, and enjoy a recreative and unceremonious intercourse with 
the Judge." 

But these days are past, and this historic mansion has degener- 
ated into a restaurant, where the rambler in the Park may find 
well-served meals, and refreshments of every sort. Belmont Glen 
contains a foot-path that descends by easy grade from the Mansion 
to the R. R. station on the river bank, and follows part of the way 
the course of a brook. 

Visitors to the Park generally seek this spot, as the view from 
the piazza is one which can scarcely be surpassed in America. It 
is one of those grand effects of Nature and art combined which man 
must acknowledge his inability to represent adequately on paper. 
Says one writer : "The view from the hall door is worth a journey 
across the continent — it is one uninterrupted descending vista to 
the river, greensward, woodland and w^ater, sunlight and shadow, 
holding and never wearying the gaze." What Charles the Em- 
peror said of the City of Florence, may well be said here: "It is 
too pleasant to be looked upon, but only on holidays." The 
grounds, at their highest elevation, on this estate, are 243 feet 
above tide water. 

There are two roads here leaving the mansion, one taking the 
extreme western boundary of the Park, the other leading to the 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 



Schuylkill. This latter brings us past the Belmont Water Works, 
a series of fine buildings and Park ofiices; also, "Tom Moore's 
Cottage," a small story-and-a-half stone dwelling, near the banks 
of the river. It is, of all places along the river, the most prosaic, 




" TOM Moore's" cottage, west park. 

and we wonder that this should have attracted the attention, even 
for a moment, of the poet. Of it, however, he sings : 

" where Schuylkill winds its way through banks of flowers." 
He has left tributes of his genius to these scenes, and composed,, 
while living here, 1804, the sweetest of his ballads: 

" I knew by the smoke that so gracefully curled 
Across the green elms that a cottage was near. 
And I said if there's peace to be found in this world, 
A heart that is humble might hope for it here." 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 49 

We are now opposite the part of the river used as the race course 
for the barges of the Schuylkill Navy, beginning at the railroad 
bridge up the stream near the Falls bridge and ending at the 
Columbia bridge, a course of one mile and a half nn length and 
almost straight. 




aXIX, WEST PAKl 



Pursuing the river road on the v^^est bank we come to the bound- 
ary of the West Park and cross the river at the Falls bridge, so 
named after the village on the east bank. In the Schuylkill, long 
time back, there were extensive rapids here, from which the vil- 
lage took its name, but the dam at Fairmounthas backed the water, 
so that the rocks are deeply covered, and the turbulence of the 
stream no longer exists. 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 51 

If the visitor wishes he cau, before reaching the bridge, take 
what is called the Ford road and visit two other of the old colonial 
estates, "Greenland" and "Chamounix." The latter, like all the 
old time honored mansions, is made to serve its latter days as a 
restaurant for the Park tourist. Here are some beautiful views of 
the opposite side of the Schuylkill, the Laurel Hill Cemetery, with 
its varied marble shafts and elaborate tombs being directly oppo- 
site, on its rocky and precipitant banks. The little steamboats 
continually plying on the river, looking even more diminutive from 
these heights of Chamounix in contrast with the towering and 
wooded crags of ^he cemeterj'. 

We now cross Falls bridge and strike the beautiful river-drive 
of the East Park, which by a little less than a mile's distan-^e 
brings us to the entrance of that fairy section called the Wissa- 
hickon Park. Passing under the arches of the Germantown and 
Norristown Railroad bridge, a beautiful and massive structure of 
hewn granite, we commence the drive on the east bank of the 
Wissahickon. This being the emptying point of both the east 
and west sections of the Park, equestrians, carriage riders and bi- 
cycle riders, now largely multiply. The noble arches of this bridge 
form a fitting portal to the beautiful and romantic valley which it 
spans. 

"WISSAHICKOX PARK." 

The name of this stream, Wissahickon, is said by antiquarians to 
be the Indian for "Catfish Creek," and that plebian member of 
the fish family is about all that it yields to reward the patient 
angler. "Catfish and coffee," is regarded by the various restau- 
rants on its banks as their best card — the sign strikes you at all 
the inns along the stream. The first restaurant on the Wissahickon 
drive is the Wissahickon Hall, and the next, a short distance above, 
is Maple Spring Hotel. This latter hostelry is noted for its collec- 
tion of grotesque figures of animals, birds, beasts and reptiles, 
made from the uncut roots of the laurel. These are the labors of 
the proprietor's life-time, gathered in the forests. 

A small dam at the mouth of the Wissahickon where it empties 




ON THE AVISSAHKKON DRIVE. 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 



53 



into the Schuylkill, serves the purpose of keeping at all times a 
fair supply of water in the lower part of the creek. The banks of 
this stream, of course, are a resort for picnics. Many hostelries 
on the road entice those with horses ; boats can be hired here at 
all suitable places. Frequently along the road of this beautiful 
stream, the Commissioners have erected watering troughs for men 
and horses, fed by the pure and ever-flowing springs from the 




BfSfS^i^^ 




rocky and wooded hills ofthis most romantic stream. Says a recent 
writer on this place: "There are not many such streams as the 
Wissahickon, none perhaps in this country and few in the world." 
For several miles it picks its way daintily between two rows of 
high hills, down to the river, bending first one way then another ; 
now darting straight forward, and again lying still and quiet as if 
devising new mischief. Sometimes it is only a noisy brook run- 
ning over pebbly bottoms, and anon a cascade leaping from rock 
to rock with shouting noise. Then it widens out into a sober river 
which flows into a peaceful lake, so quiet that down in its depths 
the trees that meet above it are reflected with every delicate out- 
line of foliage. 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 



55 



One of the most picturesque places iu the valley of the Wissa- 
hickon is where Cresheim creek runs into the larger stream. Here 
a pool, dark and deep, lurks under a huge overhanging rock. It 
is called the Devil's Pool, and the glen which surrounds it is a 
highly prized resort for pic-nic parties, on account of its beauty 
and retirement. 




WATERING TROIGH, WISSAHICKON DRIVE. 

So much has been written about the Wissahickon, and its charms 
have become so familiar to Philadelphians, that perhaps, they 
underrate them. Admirers from other cities are not likely to 
make this error, however, A writer in a New York journal speaks 
thus enthusiastically of the lovely stream, after descriptions of 
other portions of the Park : 

" But the prospect changes when we come to the Wissahickon — 
a stream which is, perhaps, the most remarkable of all known 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 57 

waters as a type of the purely romantic in scenery. This stream, 
which still retains its Indian name, lies between ranges of precip- 
itous hills that preserve for it its primeval character — a character, 
let us hope, that it will always preserve. Along its bank, through 
its whole extent, trees and vines hang down to its water's edge, 
and frequent springs drip from the rock. Its unbroken quiet, its 
■dense woodland, its pine-crowned hills, its sunless recesses, and 
sense of separation from the outer world, contrast strongl}^ with 
the broad lawns, the open, flowing river and the bright sunlight 




VALLEY GKEEN HOTEL. 

which characterize the banks of the Schuylkill. It is a chosen 
spot for youth or old age — for all those whom simple love of 
nature contents ; and it has been the home of romance, the theme 
of song, the source of illusions and legends from the earliest 
times to our owm days." 

Fairmount Park is literally full of such Elysian haunts, pleasant 
alike in the glowing summer, or in the gorgeous hued autumn, 




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FAIRMOUNT PARK. 



59 



when the foliage, myriad-tinted, is bathed in the subduing haze of 
the Indian summer. These are spots, which indeed are the happi- 
est of resting places. 




BRIDGE AT VALLEY 



To the stranger accustomed to the artificial beauty of most city 
parks, the wild, natural charms of the Wissahickon come as a 
most pleasant surprise; No other great city in the world can boast 
of such a rural suburb. 

A noted holstery on the Wissahickon is the Valley Green Hotel, 
where refreshments may be had. The old stone bridge here is a 
fine feature in the scenery, the bridge has one arch, and the arch 
and shadow on bright days (so clear is the reflection) seem one 
piece of masonry, an entire oval. Near the end of the drive is a 
neat little fountain, erected by two philanthropic citizens as far 
back as 1854. It was the first drinking fountain erected in Phila- 



FAIRMOUNT PARK. 61 



delphia, and bears the inscription Pro bono publico : Esto per- 
petua. A mile above this point is Indian rock, where the stream 
grows quite small, and the hills, relieved of their duty of guarding 
it, surrender their charge to the open meadows. The borders of 




"FIRST FOUNTAIN." 

the Park include a distance of over six miles on the Schuylkill, 
and five miles on the Wissahickon. 

The splendid trees on its banks seem to carry one into a region 
which .Nature has claimed as her own forever ; and wisdom has 



62 FAIRMOUNT PARK. 

been shown in preserving this beautful glen in all its loveliness, 
so far as is compatible with a pleasure ground for the toilers from 
the dusty city. The stream now babbling past great boulders that 
obstruct its course, and now stretching out into a long, dark pool 
reflecting the leaves and the trees above ; the towering cliffs that 
rise in glowing grandeur far above the winding road below^ ; the 
sequestered dells, picturesque rocks and caves ; the open vistas of 
lovely scenery yet to come, and over everything Nature's benedic- 
tion of silence — there is a beauty and romance about it that cannot 
be resisted. As a part of Fairmount Park this spot is secured for- 
ever to the City, to be a source of delight to coming generations, 
as it has been in the past. 

Having brought our jaunt to a close it seems that we cannot 
dismiss our subject better than to quote, as a wish and a benedic- 
tion on the Park, the motto of this First Fountain : 

"FOR THE PUBLIC good: LET IT REMAIN FOREVER." 




TheJUustratious in this book were made Ijy the Levy type Co., Philadelphia. 



63 
PLACES OF INTEREST. 



Academy of Fine Arts, Broad & Cherry. 

Academy of Music, Broad and Locust. 

Academy of Natural Sciences, 19th and 
Race. 

American Philosophical Society, Fifth 
below Chestnut. 

Apprentices' Librarj-, S. W. cor. Fifth 
and Arch. 

Armory First Regt., N. G., Broad and 
Callo'whili 

Association Hall, 15th and Chestnut. 

Athena-um, Sixth and Adelphi. 

Athletic B.B. Grounds, 26th ctJeflferson. 

Blind Asylum, Twentieth and Race. 

Blocklev Almshouse, 34th and Pine. 

Carpenter's Hall, Chestnut below 4th. 

Commercial Exchange, Second below 
Chestnut. 

County Prison, 11th and Passyunk aye. 

Custom House, Chestnut aboye Fourth. 

Eastern Penitentia^>^ Fairmount ave- 
nue above Twenty-second. 

Episcopal Hospital, 2649 N. Front. 

Frankford U. S. Arsenal, near Brides- 
burg. 

Franklin Institute, 7th above Chestnut 

Franklin's Grave, S. E. cor. 5th *t Aroh. 

Girard College, Ridge avenue and 19th. 

Grand Opera House, Broad and Mont- 
gomery avenue. 

Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 
Thirteenth and Locust. 

House of Refuge, 22d and Poplar. 

Horticultural Hall. Brodd bel. Locust. 

Institution for Deaf and Dumb, Broad 
and Pine. 

Laurel Hill Cemetery, Ridge avenue, 
near the Park, 

Masonic Temple, Broad and Filbert. 

Mayor's Office, New Public Buildings. 

Mercantile Library, Tenth above 
Chestnut. 

Merchants' Exchange, 3d and Walnut. 

Monument Cemeterj-, Broad opposite 
Berks. 

Musical Fund Hall, Locust above 8th. 



New Public Buildings, Broad Sz Market. 
Northern Home for Friendless Chil- 
dren, Twenty-third and Brown. 
Old Swedes Church, Swanson below 

Christian. 
Penn Treaty Monument, Beach above 

Hanover. 
Pennsylvania Hospital, Eighth and 

Spruce. 
Philadelphia B. B. Park. Bread and 

Huntingdon. 
Philadelphia Free Dispensary, 127 S. 

Fifth. 
Philadelphia Library, Locust and 

Juniper. 
Post-othce, Ninth and Chestnut. 
Ridgway Branch Philadelphia Library, 

Broad and Christian. 
School of Design lor Women, Broad 

and Master. 
State House, Chestnut, between Fifth 

and Sixth. 
Union League, Broad and Sansom. 
United States Mint, Chestnut above 

Thirteenth. 
U. S. Naval Asylum, Gray's Ferry road 

below South. 
University of Pennsylvania, Thirty- 
sixth and Woodland avenue. 

RAILROAD DEPOTS. 

Baltimore and Ohio, Chestnut Street 

Bridge. 
Camden & Atlantic R. R., Vine Street 

Ferry. 
North Pennsylvania R. R., Berks and 

American and Ninth and Green. 
Pennsylvania Railroad, Broad and 

Filbert. 
Philadelphia & Atlantic City R. R., 

Pier 8, South Wharves. 
Philadelphia & Reading R. R., Thir- 
teenth and Callowhill. 
Germantown and Norristown Branch, 

Ninth and Green. 
West Jersey R. R. , Market Street Ferry. 



THE SYSTEM OF HOUSE NUMBERING BY 
THE STREETS. 

The squares in Philadelphia are each apportioned for fifty numbers on a 
side, allowing twenty feet space to each number. That gives 100 numbers to a 
square, counting both sides. If the number of houses or lots do not reach the 100 
(which they do not), the next square commences 200, and the third square 300, and 
so on, the number on the house determining the block in which the house is situ- 



64 

ated. When a building occupies the space of two or more lots, it has (wo or more 
numbers. The numbers ou the streets running east and west begin with the Dela- 
ware River, which is No. 1 up to Front street, where they commence 100 ; at Sec- 
ond street they commence 200 ; at Twenty-fourth street, for example, 2400, and so 
on. The principal streets running north and south are named numerically ; thus 
a house number on a street running east and west is readily located. 

The numbering of properties on streets running north and south are on the 
same plan, except the numbers start from Market street as a centre — the streets 
north of that street called N. Fourth street, or S. Fourth street, as may be. 
In that case, of course, a knowledge of the streets running east and west must be 
known to determine the locality of a number. For 806 N. Fourth street must be 
eight squares north of Market, and 410 S. Sixth street must be four squares south 
of Market. For the convenience of this latter enumeration, Ave append a table 
of the principal streets lying north and south of Market, with their number. Ten 
squares make about a mile. 



PRINCIPAL STREETS 
Running East and West Korth of 
Market street. 
100 Arch street. 

— Cherrj'' street. 
200 Race street. 
300 Vine street. 

400 Callowhill street. 
500 Buttonwood street. 

— Spring Garden street. 
600 Green street. 

— Mount Vernon street. 

— AVallace street. 

700 Fairmount avenue. 
800 Brown street. 

— Parrish street. 
900 Poplar street. 

1200 Girard avenue. 
1300 Thompson street. 
1400 Master street. 
1500 Jefferson street. 
1600 Oxford street. 
1700 f "olumbia avenue. 
1800 Montgomerv avenue. 
1900 Berks street. 
2000 Norris street. 
2100 Diamond street. 
2200 Susquehanna avenue. 
2300 Dauphin street. 
2400 York street. 
2500 Cumberland street. 
2600 Huntingdon street. 
2700 Lehigh avenue. 
2800 Somerset street. 
2900 Cambria street. 
3000 Indiana avenue. 
3100 Clearfield street. 
3200 Allegheny avenue. 
3300 Westmoreland street. 
3400 Ontario stre"et. 
3500 Tioga street. 



PRINCIPAL STREETS 
Running East and West Soiith of 
Market street. 
100 Chestnut street. 

— Sansom street. 
200 Walnut street. 

— Locust street. 
300 Spruce street. 
400 Pine street. 

500 Lombard street. 
600 South street. 
700 Bainbridge street. 

— Fitzwater street. 
800 Catherine street 
900 Christian street. 

1000 Carpenter street. 
1100 Washington avenue. 
1200 Federal street. 
1300 Wharton street. 
1400 Reed street. 
1500 Dickinson street. 
1600 Tasker street. 
1700 Morris street. 
1800 Moore street. 
1900 Mifflin street 
2000 McKean street. 
2100 Snyder avenue. 
2200 Jackson street. 
2300 Wolf .street. 
2400 Ritner street. 
250O Porter street. 
2600 Shunk street. . 
2700 Oregon avenue. 
2800 Johnson street. 
2900 Bigler street. 
3000 Pollock street. 
3100 Packer street. 
3200 Curtin street. 
3300 Gear\' street. 
3400 Hart'ranft street. 
3500 Hovt street. 











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